To link to the entire object, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed the entire object, paste this HTML in websiteTo link to this page, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed this page, paste this HTML in website

Tomorrow is Weber State's last home football game. Come out and support the team. Kick-off is at 1 p.m. Friday, November 2, 1984 Weber State College Vol. 45 No. 9 Indira Ghandi Slain: Weber State Faculty React I i i ci T?;r:i-j r j, uy oieve riiieiu Senior Reporter Assassination reactions, plus one day. Weber State College faculty Raj Kumar, Priti Kumar, Dr. T.R. Reddy and Dr. Candadai Seshachari, all of Indian descent, shared their feelings on the assassination of Indira Gandhi. These faculty members were asked for their initial reactions. They were also asked to respond to the political future of India. "Mrs. Gandhi had been my old boss," said Raj Kumar, assistant professor of communications. "She was minister of information and broadcasting. I used to meet her once in a while. ... At that time she was being groomed to be prime minister. She was not at all related to Mahatma Gandhi," Kumar said. "I think whatever she did and had to do, she did right . . . she was a very fiery speaker." Kumar said he thinks history is repeating itself in India with respect to current violence. He feels that in time, the violence will subside. In the United States when Nixon stepped down from the presidency, democracy continued, Kumar said. He feels that there will be no threat to India's democracy. He said, "I think the Sikh (an Indian religious faction), as a whole, are not into destruction and terrorism. . . . There are a lot of sensible Sikh in India who are not vocal and violent." Priti Kumar, instructor of English, said, "My reaction is of shock. She was a great leader." Mrs. Kumar asked some rhetorical questions: "Where are we, as a world society, going? What's the difference between lis and lower forms of life? We say we are advanced, in what ways? In having more ways to kill? Where is the human trust? Where have the values gone? ... With the assassination, we have not really progressed. . . . We as a world soceity have come to this: if you don't agree, you go. . . . Terrorism is so widespread." Mrs. Kumar said, "I have a feeling that Rajiv Gandhi will follow the path that Mrs. Gandhi did." Dr. T.R. Reddy, political science department chairman, said, "I think in the immediate future there will be more shedding of power with India's congress leaders and with the congress party. It will be a group leadership ruling India without any single person ruling." Reddy said Indira Gandhi was in power for some fifteen years. He said the positive points for Rajiv Gandhi, India's new leader, are that, "He has not made enemies, has been active in politics only four years. He has a reputation for being a good listener, one of integrity The sympathy that is generated because of the assassination will give him time to work things out." Reddy said there may be problems ahead for Rajiv Gandhi. His lack of experience may present a problem. Reddy said, "He is not as charismatic as his mother and grandfather. The elections (which take place every five years) are coming shortly within the next three months. This will test his leadership." "The mistakes of Mrs. Gandhi may be associated with him," Reddy said. It will be important to watch how the new leader manages government and how he goes about cultivating support of powerful world leaders, Reddy said. He said the Indian state of Puenjab, where most Sikh live, "Is more economically prosperous than any other (Indian) state." He said, "The military commanders who carried out Mrs. Gandhi's directive against the Sikh temple, were Sikh's." Reddy said the Sikh guard's motivation was obviously religious but, "It is too early to tell whether it was the act of two individuals or the act of a group." Reddy said the Sikh represent only two percent of India's population, yet they hold twenty-five percent of the military positions, as well as many other government positions. "When you look around the world and try to think of a leader that has governed with the utmostsuccess-she (Gandhi) put India before anything else, a sort of enlightened self-interest. She brought India out of the nineteenth century into the twentieth -you look around and can't see any leaders who have accomplished what she has," said Dr. Candadai Seshachari, WSC English professor. India is a country of varied language and religions, Seshachari said. He said he compares India to united Europe as far as diversity of religion and language. "Indira Gandhi held the nation together . . . she was truly an extraordinary leader," he said. Seshachari said when he visited India last summer, it was the first time he had come away with hope. "India was economically vibrant . . . the people were more prosperous . . . they weren't standing in the long lines of the past, for supplies. For the first time India was exporting grain. . , . This was a careless squandering of a charismatic leader who helped India achieve greater things," Seshachari said. Seshachari said Indira Gandhi had an aura about her that resulted from her involvement in India's fight for freedom from England and from her association-with her grandfather, Nehru Gandhi and from Mahatma Gandhi. "Rajiv Gandhi doesn't have that same appeal," he said. The new prime minister is, "Extremely well-educated, bright, a little shy and retiring. . . . Very see "React" on page 5. 1 T r Signpost photoJeff Bybee A member of the special volunteer group from Approximately 35 children from the Utah School for the Clearfield Job Corps Center, the Rangers, leads a trick or Deaf and Blind were treated to candy by residents of the treater through the Residence Halls on Halloween night. halls at this annual activity. Administrators Gear Up For Budget Battle by Kat'iyendell Govt A ffairs . Reporter WSC administrators are already gearing up for the 1985 budget battle with the state legislature. The college is in serious need of adequate funding to update the library and various equipment. According to Robert DeBoer, assistant to the president for governmental relations, the top funding priorities this year are faculty salaries, library updating and new equipment. DeBoer acknowledges that faculty salaries at Weber are above average. However, that level is still not adequate. "We may be above average, but obviously we are still not the best, we have not yet solved our salary problem," said DeBoer. During budget hearing last years, WSC President Rodney H. Brady pushed hard to gain funding for salary increases. When the monies were divided up, some funds were diverted from other budgets in order to give the highest salary increases possible. Now, according to President Brady, the college is still behind in salaries and other needs, such as equipment. The rationale behind the emphasis on salaries was two-fold. "We wanted to raise the morale of our faculty and also become more competitive," said DeBoer. The message to our faculty was that we are interested in you and value your experience," DeBoer continued. "Now our facilities and equipment are hurting," he said, "but without quality teachers, it doesn't matter what equipment you've got. Nevertheless, many schools on campus are using outdated equipment that has not kept pace with increasing technology. "Last year overall we were only able to fund a portion of our needs. We have to reaf-. firm to the legislature that an obvious gap still exists," said DeBoer. "In order to maintain quality we must get our request."

Public Domain. Courtesy of University Archives, Stewart Library, Weber State University.

Full-Text

Tomorrow is Weber State's last home football game. Come out and support the team. Kick-off is at 1 p.m. Friday, November 2, 1984 Weber State College Vol. 45 No. 9 Indira Ghandi Slain: Weber State Faculty React I i i ci T?;r:i-j r j, uy oieve riiieiu Senior Reporter Assassination reactions, plus one day. Weber State College faculty Raj Kumar, Priti Kumar, Dr. T.R. Reddy and Dr. Candadai Seshachari, all of Indian descent, shared their feelings on the assassination of Indira Gandhi. These faculty members were asked for their initial reactions. They were also asked to respond to the political future of India. "Mrs. Gandhi had been my old boss," said Raj Kumar, assistant professor of communications. "She was minister of information and broadcasting. I used to meet her once in a while. ... At that time she was being groomed to be prime minister. She was not at all related to Mahatma Gandhi," Kumar said. "I think whatever she did and had to do, she did right . . . she was a very fiery speaker." Kumar said he thinks history is repeating itself in India with respect to current violence. He feels that in time, the violence will subside. In the United States when Nixon stepped down from the presidency, democracy continued, Kumar said. He feels that there will be no threat to India's democracy. He said, "I think the Sikh (an Indian religious faction), as a whole, are not into destruction and terrorism. . . . There are a lot of sensible Sikh in India who are not vocal and violent." Priti Kumar, instructor of English, said, "My reaction is of shock. She was a great leader." Mrs. Kumar asked some rhetorical questions: "Where are we, as a world society, going? What's the difference between lis and lower forms of life? We say we are advanced, in what ways? In having more ways to kill? Where is the human trust? Where have the values gone? ... With the assassination, we have not really progressed. . . . We as a world soceity have come to this: if you don't agree, you go. . . . Terrorism is so widespread." Mrs. Kumar said, "I have a feeling that Rajiv Gandhi will follow the path that Mrs. Gandhi did." Dr. T.R. Reddy, political science department chairman, said, "I think in the immediate future there will be more shedding of power with India's congress leaders and with the congress party. It will be a group leadership ruling India without any single person ruling." Reddy said Indira Gandhi was in power for some fifteen years. He said the positive points for Rajiv Gandhi, India's new leader, are that, "He has not made enemies, has been active in politics only four years. He has a reputation for being a good listener, one of integrity The sympathy that is generated because of the assassination will give him time to work things out." Reddy said there may be problems ahead for Rajiv Gandhi. His lack of experience may present a problem. Reddy said, "He is not as charismatic as his mother and grandfather. The elections (which take place every five years) are coming shortly within the next three months. This will test his leadership." "The mistakes of Mrs. Gandhi may be associated with him," Reddy said. It will be important to watch how the new leader manages government and how he goes about cultivating support of powerful world leaders, Reddy said. He said the Indian state of Puenjab, where most Sikh live, "Is more economically prosperous than any other (Indian) state." He said, "The military commanders who carried out Mrs. Gandhi's directive against the Sikh temple, were Sikh's." Reddy said the Sikh guard's motivation was obviously religious but, "It is too early to tell whether it was the act of two individuals or the act of a group." Reddy said the Sikh represent only two percent of India's population, yet they hold twenty-five percent of the military positions, as well as many other government positions. "When you look around the world and try to think of a leader that has governed with the utmostsuccess-she (Gandhi) put India before anything else, a sort of enlightened self-interest. She brought India out of the nineteenth century into the twentieth -you look around and can't see any leaders who have accomplished what she has," said Dr. Candadai Seshachari, WSC English professor. India is a country of varied language and religions, Seshachari said. He said he compares India to united Europe as far as diversity of religion and language. "Indira Gandhi held the nation together . . . she was truly an extraordinary leader," he said. Seshachari said when he visited India last summer, it was the first time he had come away with hope. "India was economically vibrant . . . the people were more prosperous . . . they weren't standing in the long lines of the past, for supplies. For the first time India was exporting grain. . , . This was a careless squandering of a charismatic leader who helped India achieve greater things," Seshachari said. Seshachari said Indira Gandhi had an aura about her that resulted from her involvement in India's fight for freedom from England and from her association-with her grandfather, Nehru Gandhi and from Mahatma Gandhi. "Rajiv Gandhi doesn't have that same appeal," he said. The new prime minister is, "Extremely well-educated, bright, a little shy and retiring. . . . Very see "React" on page 5. 1 T r Signpost photoJeff Bybee A member of the special volunteer group from Approximately 35 children from the Utah School for the Clearfield Job Corps Center, the Rangers, leads a trick or Deaf and Blind were treated to candy by residents of the treater through the Residence Halls on Halloween night. halls at this annual activity. Administrators Gear Up For Budget Battle by Kat'iyendell Govt A ffairs . Reporter WSC administrators are already gearing up for the 1985 budget battle with the state legislature. The college is in serious need of adequate funding to update the library and various equipment. According to Robert DeBoer, assistant to the president for governmental relations, the top funding priorities this year are faculty salaries, library updating and new equipment. DeBoer acknowledges that faculty salaries at Weber are above average. However, that level is still not adequate. "We may be above average, but obviously we are still not the best, we have not yet solved our salary problem," said DeBoer. During budget hearing last years, WSC President Rodney H. Brady pushed hard to gain funding for salary increases. When the monies were divided up, some funds were diverted from other budgets in order to give the highest salary increases possible. Now, according to President Brady, the college is still behind in salaries and other needs, such as equipment. The rationale behind the emphasis on salaries was two-fold. "We wanted to raise the morale of our faculty and also become more competitive," said DeBoer. The message to our faculty was that we are interested in you and value your experience," DeBoer continued. "Now our facilities and equipment are hurting," he said, "but without quality teachers, it doesn't matter what equipment you've got. Nevertheless, many schools on campus are using outdated equipment that has not kept pace with increasing technology. "Last year overall we were only able to fund a portion of our needs. We have to reaf-. firm to the legislature that an obvious gap still exists," said DeBoer. "In order to maintain quality we must get our request."